Skate

ABSTRACT

The lower extent of skate boot lacing is replaced by elastic material.

1111c States Ket [11 BJSJ Scott Get. 16, 1973 [54] SKATE 799,814 9/1905Welch 36 51 1,595,630 8 1926 St kt [76] Inventor: William H.'Sc0tt, 2663Midland 2,222,832 1940 gj gi 74 i 3,037,303 6/1962 Stever 36/51 CanadaFiled: J y 27, 1972 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson 2 AppL Na: 275705 Att0rneyR0bert L. WESICZH et al.

[52] [1.8. CI. 36/51 51 1m. (:1 A43 11/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field ofSearch 36/50, 5l The lower extent of Skate boot lacing is replaced byelastic material. [56] References Ciaed UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims,3 Drawing Figures 2,108,631 2/1938 Wagner 36/51 SKATE This inventionrelates to a skate.

A skate, as presently made, is secured to the foot and maintainedthereon, by lacing of the two opposed members forming the upper, to apoint near the toe cap. It has been found, however, in connection withthe development of this invention, that the lower onefourth or one-thirdof the lace flights through the corresponding fraction of the laceholes, do not add materially to the control by the skater of the skateor the security of the skater on the skate. The control or supportbetween the skater and the skate is determined by the upper three-fourthto two-third of the lacing. On the other hand, the presence of theselaces causes material discomfort over this lower one-third or one-fourthextent, if the laces are tightly laced (since the foot tends to changeform in this area during skating). The lower one-third or one-fourth ofthe lacing corresponds to an extent measured forward and rearwardrelative to the skate extending from'a location in front of to alocation behind the location corresonding to the large inward bulge ofthe joint of the big toe meta-tarsal bone. Tight lacing in the forwardand rearward extent of this bone reduces blood circulation in the footand flexure in its joint resulting in reduced skating area and comfort.

On the other hand if the laces are left loose, they are of no effect onthe skaters control and during wear slackness extends, during use, tothe upper extent of the skaters skate dangerously reducing support andcontrol.

One alternative to' the dilemma above discussed, is not to lace thelower one-third or one-fourth of the lacing extent. However, thisreduces very slightly the control achieved by the skater, and has a verydeleterious psychological effect during skating, making the skater feelthat he is insecure and not able to control his movement.

This invention provides a new form of boot, peculiarly suited forskating, wherein the skate boot is designed with the same'two uppermembers as in a conventional skate; which two members are normally lacedto draw the two members toward each other as far as the skate willpermit. However, the lacing is eliminated (as are the lace holesorgrommets) from approximately the lower one-third or one-fourth of thenormal extent. In this extent, the two members which would be joined bylacing in a conventional skate, are joined by a stretchable elasticmaterial. The modulus of elasticity is selected having regard to theskate size and para meters of the skate boot construction, but will bedesigned to have a low enough modulus to allow flexing of the foot bonesand muscles and a high enough modulus to provide a feeling of snugnessto the wearer and the small amount of control required. The elasticityin the lower one-third to one-fourth of the normal extent, allows fullarticulation and flexure of the foot bones, particularly themeta-tarsals.

In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a skate in accord with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-section along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the skate of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, the skate is conventional and attached to boot (withwhich the invention is concerned) in a conventional manner. The skatenormally includes a toe cap 14 to protect the skaters toe and mutuallyopposite upper portions joined at the bottom by a sole and at the rearby the portion shaped about the heel and the ankle. The two upperportions define mutually opposite edges 30, which in the conventionalskate, are provided with lace holes 29 (usually accompanied by grommets32) along the entire extent, so that the upper portions may be lacedtoward each other to produce a fit, as far as possible, of the boot onthe wearers foot. In the inventive skate boot, as shown, the upperextent of the lace holes are retained, but the lower extent of the laceholes are replaced by an elastic material 36 firmly attached to theupper portions at a seam 34.

The elastic material will be of low enough elastic modulus to conform tovariations in contour of the wearer's foot. Although the extent of theupper portions along which the elastic extends, contributes in only asmall degree to the control and guidance of the skate, such control andguidance is achieved, with the inventive design, by providing that theelastic modulus of the material is high enough to allow such guidanceand control. The elasticity of the material selected will -vary with thesize and style of the skate boot. The elastic material may be of anydesired variety such as the types used for stretchable trouser waists,elastic bandages, girdles etc.

The proportion of -the total lace plus elastic extent taken by theelastic will also vary with the skate size and style. The fraction ofthe total skate plus elastic extent taken by the elastic is aboutone-third to onefourth. However, the criterion for the location of theelastic extent, is that it extends, in a forward and rearward directionrelative to the-skate from in front of, to behind the locationcorresponding to the large bulge B of the foot caused by the joint ofthe meta-tarsal joint for the big toe. (This is best shown in FIG. 3).In this way freedom of flexure and freedom of circulation are assured.

I claim:

1. In a skate boot including a laced portion comprising two uppermembers defining opposite sides of a skate upper, and a toe coveringportion, wherein the two upper members are joined by an upper extent oflacing, and are, between the laced portion and the toe portion, joinedby material permitting elastic spreading of the two members joined bythe laced portion, wherein said material'permitting elastic spreadingextends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate infront of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge ofthe joint for the metatarsal bone for the big toe.

2. In a skate boot having two members normally joined by lacing whereinthe extent in the direction from the ankle to the toe portion, which isnormally joined by lacing, is comprised of an upper laced extent and alower extent, wherein the two members are joined at the lower extent byelastic permitting spreading of the two members, wherein said elasticextends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, infront of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge ofthe joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.

3. In a skate boot having a toe cap and two upper members definingopposite sides of a skate upper and having mutually opposed edgesextending from the vipermitting elastic spreading extends in a forwardand rearward direction relative to the skate, in front of and behind thelocation corresponding to the inward bulge of the joint for themeta-tarsal bone for the big toe.

* 1k 1! i I?

1. In a skate boot including a laced portion comprising two uppermembers defining opposite sides of a skate upper, and a toe coveringportion, wherein the two upper members are joined by an upper extent oflacing, and are, between the laced portion and the toe portion, joinedby material permitting elastic spreading of the two members joined bythe laced portion, wherein said material permitting elastic spreadingextends, in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate infront of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge ofthe joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.
 2. In a skate boothaving two members normally joined by lacing wherein the extent in thedirection from the ankle to the toe portion, which is normally joined bylacing, is comprised of an upper laced extent and a lower extent,wherein the two members are joined at the lower extent by elasticpermitting spreading of the two members, wherein said elastic extends,in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, in front ofand behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge of the jointfor the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.
 3. In a skate boot having atoe cap and two upper members defining opposite sides of a skate upperand having mutually opposed edges extending from the vicinity of the toecap to the vicinity of the ankle, wherein said two upper members arejoined along a lower portion of said extent by material permittingelastic spreading of the two members and are designed to be laced alongan upper extent, wherein said material permitting elastic spreadingextends in a forward and rearward direction relative to the skate, infront of and behind the location corresponding to the inward bulge ofthe joint for the meta-tarsal bone for the big toe.